Two Ft. Thompson Men Plead Not Guilty to First Degree Burglary, First Degree Murder, and Aiding and Abetting

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 26, 2011

Contact: Mark E. Salter
Assistant United States Attorney
605-357-2360

U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that two Ft. Thompson men have been indicted by a federal grand jury for First Degree Burglary, First Degree Murder, and Aiding & Abetting.

Alphonso Drapeau, III, age 22, and Gavin Drapeau, age 20, were indicted by a federal grand jury on October 12, 2011. They appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno and pled not guilty to the indictment. The maximum penalty upon conviction is 25 years' imprisonment on the burglary charge and life imprisonment on the murder charge. The charges are merely accusations, and the Defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges is prosecuting the case. Both Defendants were remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal. A trial date has not yet been set.